Making work acceptable and mothers available. Re-classification of welfare clients with small children under three years in German Jobcenters

Abstract

"Parents of small children in basic income support, mostly mothers, are by rules of law exempt from job search activities, training and other compliance requirements of the job centers. Yet, these three years since childbirth shall now increasingly be utilized to identify these mothers’ potentials and prepare them for successful job take ups. This paper investigates how these so-called early activation efforts, called for by changes in legal and sub-legal regulations, are being required. In short, how should welfare-recipient mothers with small children be made more available for paid employment? The subject of this article is a critical analysis of these changes motivated by labor market and social policy" (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © De Gruyter) ((en))

Cite article

Höpfner, E. (2025): Wie Mütter für den Arbeitsmarkt verfügbar gemacht werden sollen. Vorgaben zur frühzeitigen Aktivierung von Erziehenden kleiner Kinder unter drei Jahren in der Grundsicherung. In: Zeitschrift für Sozialreform, p. 1-24. DOI:10.1515/zsr-2024-0024